Here in New York we have had to deal with some mythical performances from opponents(Reggie Miller), but luckily we had some tricks up our sleeve as well(Willis Reed).

There's no denying that New York Sports teams have had their fair share of bad luck. For information on that check out my other article on the ten most hated athletes in New York Sports history which can be found here: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/348935-not-so-empire-state-of-mind-the-ten-most-hated-athletes-in-new-york-sports-history

However, for each and every villain we've had a hero.

Frank Sinatra said it best, "If I can make it there, I'll Make It Anywhere". Many have made it here, many haven't.

The next 20 names you're about to see will bring back some of the best memories of your life. Enjoy.

20. John Starks

If you look up overachiever in the dictionary you'll probably find a picture of John Starks next to it. He was never supposed to succeed.

Nobody wanted Starks during the Draft. Rather than giving up like most people would have, Starks continued to play in the independent leagues until he forced his way on to the Golden State Warriors.

After one season with limited playing time in Golden State, Starks left to try out for the New York Knicks. During a practice Stark tried the impossible, he attempted to dunk on Hall Of Famer Patrick Ewing.

In the process Ewing threw him down and Starks was hurt. Because his injury didn't heal by December the Knicks were not allowed to release him, so he stayed with the team.

And that's where Starks' story starts, but not where it ends.

Starks kept playing hard and impressed the Knicks enough to earn some minutes.

He continued to prove himself as the toughest, most dedicated player in the NBA, and that is why Knicks' fans truly got behind him. He represented everything New York was about.

Nothing ever comes easy in New York. Nothing ever came easy for Starks.

They were a match made in heaven.

Many people remember Starks for his dunk over Michael Jordan and Horace Grant.

However, the one Starks moment that I will never forget was his headbutt of Reggie Miller. It was then when the entire world realized that John Starks takes crap from nobody.

It was his toughness and dedication that made the Knicks one of the best teams of the 90s.

19. Mike Piazza

Finding a New Yorker (Yankee or Met fan) who doesn't like Piazza would be no easy task.

He is, without a doubt, the best offensive catcher in the history of baseball, and Cooperstown is waiting.

Piazza was always able to keep his cool, which is why he was so liked. Who could ever forget the whole Roger Clemens incident. How he managed to not wail Clemens in the face after he chucked that bat at him showed great self-control.

Piazza carried the team back in 2000, when they somehow advanced to the World Series.

The bottom line is that Piazza was a 12 time all star, and a fan favorite.

18. Mike Bossy

This pick probably won't be popular with Islander fans (all two of them), but I feel I made the right choice.

Do I want to put Mike Bossy higher?

Absolutely

Are the Islanders popular enough in New York for him to be placed higher?

Absolutely not.

If Mike Bossy were a Ranger he would have been an easy choice for the top five, but unfortunately his four straight Stanley Cup celebrations were in the arena that lives in Madison Square Garden's shadow.(Nassau Coliseum)

Mike Bossy was one of the greatest goal-scorers in the history of hockey. However, his acts have gone nearly unnoticed in the Big Apple.

The man was the best player on a team for four straight Stanley Cups. However, according to New York Sports fans those four don't hold a candle to Messier's one.

I can understand why people love the Rangers, heck I love any team that plays at the garden, but there is no reason why the best player on a team that four-peated as champions should not crack the Top 15.

If this were a list of the New York Athletes with the greatest achievements Bossy would be in my Top Five without hesitation. Unfortunately for him this is a list of the people, and the people say Mike Bossy was nothing but an Islander.

17. Walt Frazier

If not for Walt Frazier there is no Willis Reed, Dave DeBusschere or Earl "The Pearl" Monroe.

He was and still is by far the best point guard in Knicks history.

He was the man at the helm for both Knicks Championship teams. He was also one of the greatest point guards in basketball history.

A lot of people like to remember Willis Reed's gutsy performance in Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals. What most people don't know is that if not for Walt Frazier that moment would be as known as well, every moment of Stephon Marbury's Knick career.

Why you might ask?

Well it's simple, Frazier scored 36 points and dished out 19 assists in that game. There is no chance that they win that game without Frazier. Had they not won that game then Reed's injury comeback would have meant nothing.

Frazier is a Hall Of Famer and is honored as one of the NBA's 50 Greatest Players.

He is also one of the most clutch players in NBA history.

He's currently the lovable voice of the New York Knicks on MSG. His huge words have kept fans everywhere running for dictionaries.

It brought a tear to my eye, and it brought more than a few to the eyes of Paul O'neill.

It was then that the whole world realized that the New York Yankees have the greatest fans in the world. Paul O'neill busted his ass every single time he was out on the field, and each and every Yankee fan knew it.

They also knew that without Paul O'neill they would have never won a single championship in the 1990s, and they truly appreciated it.

I don't care if you like Paul O'neill or not, you better respect the man willing to kick a baseball into the infield when his glove misses it.

11. Reggie Jackson

Reggie Jackson's best years may have been spent elsewhere, but you'd be lying if you said you remembered him as anything but a Yankee.

Back in '77 the Bronx was burning, and right at the center of it was none other than Reggie Jackson. He didn't come without controversy, but he left without it.

It was clear that Reggie had to earn his respect in New York, and he did just that. His three home run game in the 1977 Fall Classic is still one of the most memorable performances in baseball history.

He won two rings in New York, and the people in New York love him for it.

10. Lawrence Taylor

What can you say about Lawrence Taylor?

He was the most dominant defender in NFL History, he single-handedly ended careers, he is the only defensive player in NFL History that could win a game by himself, he changed the way that football was played forever, he was a key player in two Giants Super Bowl victories.

Not bad, huh?

I'll tell you what is bad: He was addicted to cocaine, he sent prostitutes to his opponents rooms before a big game to try to tire them out, he was suspended twice for using cocaine, did I mention he was addicted to cocaine?

Taylor was beloved in New York for what he did on the field, but it's no secret that his lifestyle off the field dropped him a few spots on this list.

6. Willis Reed

Willis Reed was a two-time NBA Champion on a team that has only won two NBA Championships in it's history. Reed was a one-time NBA MVP on a team that has only had one MVP in it's history.

You see where I'm going with this.

However, Reed's love affair with New York goes well beyond anything that can be shown with numbers.

Willis Reed was a GREAT player, but in 1970 he became a legend.

In Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals, Reed limped into Madison Square Garden on one leg, in the greatest injury comeback in sports history. It was clear the second that Reed stepped out from the locker room that the Knicks had already won the game.

He added the Knicks first two buckets for good measure as they stomped over the Lakers 113-99 en route to their first NBA Championship.